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Walking tours of London are only £10 and last a little over 2 hours and are an amazing way to get deeper into history and discover things you'd never find out alone. You get taken through narrow lanes and into backyards and hidden treasures you cannot see for yourself. The guides are so full of passion and knowledge and I'm mesmerised for the entire time!
This particular one was in the Royal Quarter besides Green Park, St James's Palace and Piccadilly. As you know, I soak up ANY Royal trivia! St James Palace is now home to Princess Anne (obviously taking her no glitz n glam, outta the limelight stance to the fullest) I just love that it is one of King Henry the 8th palaces. It's tucked into basically a back street. But, only 500m from Buck House! By the way, most scenes for movies such as The Kings Speech use the inside of another house known as Lancashire House which is as opulent as The Palace and accessible as the Government now own it.
Green Park is so named because 100's of leprosy victims were buried under the ground, it was believed that flowers transferred the disease through the air so planting them was forbidden until recently when our Queen had 100's of schoolchildren plans daffodils bulbs throughout as part of her Jubilee. Now they bloom every Spring!
In the early 1600's Queen Caroline used to take her constitutional strolls down Queens Way; thus gave it the name. Consequently many other Royals did the same. A snippet, one day Caroline took a turn on her walk and returned home to Palace and immediately died! Proving walking is, as I always suspected, no good for you!
We visited the first Gentleman's Club where a chap by the name of Brummell (said to be one of the most important men of his time...he said so...but did end up being so! ). He started a new (and remaining trend) whereby he believed men should be seen but not noticed (Mother!!!! LOL). He encouraged men to stop wearing the flounce and knickerbockers, wigs and ruffles and opt for well fitted trousers, waistcoat and well polished shoes! His, he says, were polished using only the finest foaming Champagne!
We visited the Duke Hotel where Diana was famously snapped by the Paparazzi on the day of the divorce announcement covering her face. This is also the hotel where every new James Bond, when cast, goes to have the Classic Martini as it serves the best in the world according to Ian Fleming: shaken, not stirred!
The story of "robust" Mr Henrisson is infamous but tragic as well; an enthusiast of trains (the highest degree), he was waddling (being enormous) across the train lines and failed to hear an oncoming Steam train from opposing direction: "splat": ...the first man to ever be killed by a train! ...at least he died doing what he loved! He lived next to Winston Churchill for a time! We saw both their houses!
There were so many more wonderful tales relayed on this journey. All the corresponding pictures are posted in photos!
Not being able to update, check, call or use my phone while out and about has proven to be an absolute godsend! It is allowing me to be present and in the moment like never before. I'm determined to bring this ideal back home with me!
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Richard Must do these guided eslks next year!